New York Rangers
Alexander Rudolov celebrates his first goal in his first game after being acquired from Dallas.
Alexander Radulov made a successful debut with his new team, helping the Rangers to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-1 at PNC Arena. Radulov, who was traded from Dallas, scored late in the third period to cap a four-goal onslaught. It was his sixteenth of the season. The win by New York (79 points, 2nd place) snaps a four-game losing streak and keeps them ahead of the Buffalo Sabres and Hurricanes who are tied with 76 points.
A scoreless first period was followed by New York scoring on a power play to take a 2-1 lead in the second period. From then on, it was all Rangers as Chris Kreider scored his second of the night to begin the third. Canes goalie Frederik Andersen (29-16-6) was left defenseless in the crease — having to stop 41 of 46 shots and allowing two power play goals to get through while his team came up empty on four man-advantages.
Center Nick Cousins also made his Rangers-debut. He was acquired in a trade that sent C Mika Zibanejad and D Patrick Nemeth to Nashville for Cousins and D Ben Harpur.
Alexander Radulov signs contract extension
Not long after arriving to New York, the Rangers offered Radulov a 2-year contract extension worth $5.90M per season and Radulov signed. He has been in the league since being selected by the Predators in the first-round of the 2004 entry-draft. He then went to Dallas. Before joining New York, Radulov had played in 59 games and scored 43 points (15 goals, 28 assists).
The Rangers survived a 5-on-3 at the end of overtime, then Adam Fox scored the game-winning shoot out goal to give the Rangers a 3-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. Filip Chytil scored his second goal of the game and ninth of the season early in the third period to put New York on top 2-1 but his club’s defense couldn’t hold the lead and allowed Jaden Schwartz to snap one home with less than three minutes remaining in regulation. The victory ended a six-game losing streak for the Rangers who still haven’t won outright wince defeating the LA Kings 5-2 on January 10.
LINE CHANGE IMPACT — The game marked the first since Chytil and Vitali Kravtsov moved to the second line, replacing Ryan Strome and Sammy Blais. The second line, that also includes Alexis Lafreniere, finished the game with a combined +2 while the third line registered a +1.
Andrei Svechnikov scored on a break away in overtime to lift the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 victory at PNC Arena. The loss by the Rangers extended their winless streak to four games but did pick up a much-needed point. Mika Zibanejad scored 11:28 into the third period to bring the Rangers level 2-2, his eighth goal of the season. Svechnikov’s winner raised his season goal total to twenty-four.
The Rangers salvaged a point in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs at Madison Square Garden. Toronto had taken a 2-0 lead into the third period before Ryan Strome and Mika Zibanejad scored goals to tie the game 2-2. A minute later, Austin Matthew’s 28th goal of the season put Toronto back on top (3-2).
In the final frame, New York threw everything at Maple Leafs goalie Petr Mrazek until it resulted in Chris Kreider tapping a rebound back into the net with 3:37 to play in regulation. It ended with the game going into overtime. With 1:34 remaining in OT, John Tavares beat goalie Igor Shesterkin on his stick side after Matthews set him up from the lane.
Toronto’s LD Travis Dermott and Rangers Chris Kreider took off the gloves with Kreider winning the fight. The loss extended the Rangers’ losing streak to three games.
AS IT STANDS (thru Game 43)…
New York is looking strong heading into the second half of the season, finishing in second place behind Toronto. New York’s 57 points gives them a 13-point advantage over ninth-place Philadelphia Flyers (44 points). The Rangers’ offense and defense ranks among the best in the NHL, but overtaking the Maple Leafs might remain a pipe-dream.
